Flipboard integrates audio into iPhone and iPad apps

Flipboard has become the first mobile reader to incorporate audio, allowing users to listen to music while flipping through content on Facebook, Twitter and more.

Flipbaord will allow users to listen to a variety of sounds and music while ‘flipping’

The Palo Alto-based start-up struck deals with SoundCloud, National Public Radio and Public Radio International in the hope of creating a ‘personal soundtrack’ to accompany the social news magazine on Apple devices.

With eight million downloads the Flipboard app has been a big success, aggregating social networks in an aesthetically pleasing and easy to operate fashion.

Marci McCue, head of marketing, told the BBC: ‘This is really going to change the entertainment experience of Flipboard.’

Sound has been made omnipresent on the app, and can be clicked on and off using a musical note icon in the lower left corner of every page.

Flipboard makes social news image-orientated

Music selections on offer to Flipboard users include original beats by Snoop Dogg – one of SoundCloud’s biggest advocates.

Flipboard is hoping to revolutionise the mobile reading experience, with SoundCloud founder Alexander Ljung describing it as ‘Un-muting the mobile web ‘.